I have a lot of antique silver I’m sorting through and I’m trying to learn how to identify hallmarks.
Is this J Walker?
I’m still new at this but does the anchor mean it was made in Birmingham and the u would be the date?
Hello Teebo, you’re right, the anchor means Birmingham, the lion sterling silver, the U is the date, in case 1894.
You can see the cities and dates in this site:
https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Dates/Birmingham/Date%20Letters%20U.html
About the makers, can be J Walker or Joseph Whitten.
https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Birmingham-JT-JZ.html#JW
Ok, thanks. I don’t know if my logic is flawed but I’m guessing it’s Joseph Whitten since it’s a salt and pepper shaker.
Also, I found these two examples from the same date.
I agree that it is the same marking as your pieces, but look at the last table, there is information that this marking is very similar to J Walker’s markings, which you mentioned first, which is why I was in doubt.
That’s why I changed my mind. Before I posted I only found the company names but no idea what they did. The information you posted says J. Walker was a whip mount maker. I’m not sure what that is. Maybe it goes on a horse carriage or something? Regardless, it’s quite specific so they probably didn’t make salt and pepper shakers.
I also couldn’t find anything of j Walker being sold.
It’s nice to know the exact date. They really thought ahead back then.
A whip mount maker made the “mounts” (the silver decorations, bands, finials, etc) for a riding crop / whip, and probably similar items for walking sticks and umbrellas. A very specialised trade which is why I attributed this mark to Joseph Whitten. I had to leave in the “probably” so that anybody finding a similar mark on a whip would know it would be by J Walker.
Phil
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Hello, English is my second language and I didn’t know the meaning of “whip”, so I just ignored the word, but you and Phil clarified everything